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As far as cigar brands go, Graycliff can be pretty hard to come by. Sure, you’ll be able to find them at the occasional B&M or online retailer, but not nearly as frequently as you’d expect, especially from a brand that has received some glowing praise.

Various Graycliff lines – from Crystal and Profesionale to Espresso and Emerald – have earned high marks at publications like Cigar Aficionado and Smoke Magazine. With a limited production, though, the brand still seems to waver in obscurity.

Perhaps that’s a testament to Graycliff’s humble beginnings in the entranceway of a Bahaman restaurant. The company was founded by Enrico Garzaroli, a restaurateur who wanted to produce a high-end cigar to compliment the cuisine of his dining establishments in Nassau. Judging by the few Château Grand Cru PGs I’ve smoked recently, I think he hit the nail on the head.

Advertised as full-bodied with dominant flavors of leather and spice, this particular line was introduced to rave reviews at the 2005 RTDA trade show. It is composed of tobacco from Nicaragua, Honduras, and Costa Rica and retails in the pricey $12 to $19 range.

The PG is a robusto-sized stick with dimensions of 5 and ¼ inches and a ring gauge of 50. The wrapper is a bit granulated and veiny, but not unattractive, and the band is a shiny purple and gold (which, as you can see by the picture, is very difficult to photograph). Innocent-looking enough.

As unthreatening as the appearance is, though, the taste is quite full with well-balanced notes of raisin, vanilla, and roasted nuts. The aroma produced with each easy puff is bountiful and reminiscent of the Davidoff Grand Cru series.

But this stogie is stronger, especially into the halfway point as a spicy pepper flavor comes into play. With all these tastes and an even burn, the cigar is a real pleasure from light to nub – a memorable journey that takes a little over 75 minutes.

My only complaint is that the ash is a little frail and unpredictable. I was surprised by this, particularly since the filler is packed very tightly.

When it’s all said and done, however, this is a fine, well-balanced, expertly crafted, complex smoke. Too bad the cost gives me sticker shock. If the price were closer to the $8 to $10 range, I’d be willing to give the Graycliff Château Grand Cru PG an even higher rating than four out of five stogies.

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